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Dixie Chicks Protests Faked?

Cherry Bomb

10:04 / 14.04.03

I can't find any other source on this,but this article alleges that the protests against the Dixie Chicks for saying they were "ashamed of George W. Bush" were orchestrated by the Republican Party.

Party operatives spammed their email lists the day after Maines made her statement, urging them to contact radio stations. Phone calls originating from the GOP headquarters in Washington went out to country stations, urging them to remove the Chicks from their playlists.

Any thoughts? Adding this to the ClearChannel Communications organizations of "pro-war" protests, this is all a bit scary...

Our Lady of The Two Towers

12:39 / 14.04.03

Well, I thought it that was obvious that it wasn't spontaneous, although perhaps I'm missing something. But does it really matter? I mean, the anti-war demos were organised, with some people going along just because they heard about it from their mates and thought it would be a laugh, because interest groups they were in advertised it, because the newspapers they read said it was happening, what's the difference?

Cherry Bomb

12:52 / 14.04.03

Does it really matter? Hmm, good question, Lady Flowers. Not sure, but I think it does matter. It kind of twists the whole idea of "grassroots uprising" and also to some extent cheapens the massive peace protests that have been happening around the world. So on reflection, yes I think it matters.

Francine I

13:49 / 14.04.03

It matters because this "protest" may have been instigated mostly by well paid Republican politicians and well-paid corporate organizers. It's an inappropriate application of power. Technically, on the corporate side, it's not so bad -- but for Congresspeople to spam radio people in order to create a hubbub over a 'non-patriotic' statement is shitty.

Professor Silly

14:59 / 14.04.03

When I heard that the Dixie Chicks retracted and apologized for their statement I roared with disapproval. If they don't have the strength of conviction to stand by their statements and give a big FUCK YOU to these Republicans and the radio monopolies...well then fuck them too.

(ranting over)

Cherry Bomb

08:13 / 15.04.03

I agree, DaB, but the thing I'm more interested in exploring is not what you think about the Dixie Chicks but what you think about these protests being faked. It's interesting to me too that protests such as this one get plenty of news coverage, yet pro-peace protest coverage, in the U.S. at least, tends to be ignored.

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